JANUARY 20 • TRUE LEADERSHIP
Humility
I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love… Ephesians 4:1-2
Strongs NT Greek definition of humility — ταπεινοφροσύνη (tapeinophrosynē) humiliation of mind, modesty, humbleness of mind, lowliness of mind; having a humble opinion of one’s self; a deep sense of one’s (moral) littleness.
I love Philippians 2:3 for this, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (my italic emphasis). It’s lowering our opinion of ourselves and raising our opinion of others (counting others as more significant). It’s putting others first.
Think of our interaction with others. Are we gentle? Patient? Do we interrupt? Do we talk over? Show deference to their thought or opinion? Even if we think we know the answer? I can’t tell you how many times I have thought myself right and the other person wrong only for me to be proven wrong! Or times that I accuse someone of something and it wasn’t true. I need the humility to listen, do the homework, and bring forth what reality actually is! It’s taken me years, no, decades, to learn humility enough to hold my tongue and do the homework. Learn now from my mistakes! (okay… and your own stories…).
Another Ephesians verse that speaks to this is 4:2, “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…” Humility shows itself in gentleness and patience… I dare say it displays the other Fruit of the Spirit as well (Galatians 5:22-23).
If you are prone to talk/walk over others (Outgoing Personalities), build a system to not speak first, to ask questions instead of make comments (actually, questions are the best way to communicate), and to think more highly of the other person than you do. If you are more naturally humble (Reserved Personalities), make sure you get your point across at the end of the conversation and always ask, “Does that make sense?” to ensure you are communicating. As a leader, your people should always speak first so they can be heard and understood. And make sure your humble folks get the last word! You may need to force them to speak. Don’t miss out on their wisdom!
Pray: Lord help me think more highly of others than I do of myself and help me show them this love by demonstrating humility.
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